centella asiatica leaf

Centella asiatica leaf is the dried or fresh foliage of Centella asiatica (commonly known as gotu kola), a perennial herb native to tropical regions of Asia and Australia. It has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. The primary active constituents are pentacyclic triterpenoid saponins (notably asiaticoside, madecassoside, and their aglycones asiatic acid and madecassic acid). These compounds are believed to contribute to its reported pharmacological effects including wound healing (by promoting collagen synthesis), anti-inflammatory activity (by modulating cytokine production), antioxidant properties (scavenging free radicals), anxiolytic effects (possibly via increasing cerebral GABA levels), vascular protection (improving venous insufficiency by strengthening blood vessel walls), and neuroprotective actions. Centella asiatica leaves are used orally or topically for conditions such as chronic venous insufficiency, varicose veins, minor wounds/burns/ulcers/psoriasis/eczema/leprosy/lupus skin lesions; they have also been studied for cognitive enhancement and anxiety relief. However, robust clinical evidence supporting most uses is limited; it is not an FDA-approved pharmaceutical drug but is widely available as an over-the-counter dietary supplement in various forms including capsules/powders/extracts/topical creams[1][2][3][4][5][6][7].

Other names

asiatic pennywort leafgotu kola leafhydrocotyle asiatica leafhydrocotyle erecta leafji xue cao leafmandukaparni leafsheep-rot leafspadeleaf leafthankuni leaf